Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the
Borough of Bournemouth in Dorset, England. The town
has a population of 163,444 according to the 2001
Census, making it the largest settlement in Dorset.
It is the largest town on the south coast and the
largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth.
With Poole and Christchurch it forms the South East
Dorset conurbation, which has a total population of
approximately 400,000.
Founded in 1810 by Lewis Tregonwell, Bournemouth's
growth accelerated with the arrival of the railway,
becoming a recognised town in 1870. Originally part
of Hampshire, it joined Dorset with the
reorganisation of local government in 1974.
Bournemouth's location on the south coast of England
has made it a popular destination for tourists.